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The College of Charleston is a public liberal arts university founded in 1770, making it one of the oldest universities in the United States. The main campus occupies a cluster of historic buildings in downtown Charleston bounded by St. Philip Street, George Street, Coming Street, and Calhoun Street. CofC enrolls roughly 10,000 undergraduates in programs spanning the arts and sciences, business, and education. Students are steps from Charleston's restaurant scene on King Street, the City Market, and waterfront parks along the Cooper River. Campus landmarks include the Cistern Yard, Randolph Hall, and the Addlestone Library on the Cougar Mall green.
All first-year students at the College of Charleston are required to live in university-managed housing for their first academic year. CofC has limited on-campus bed capacity relative to its total enrollment, making the transition to off-campus housing common by sophomore year.
Students who have completed their freshman year are eligible to live off campus. The downtown Charleston neighborhoods surrounding the college, including Cannonborough-Elliotborough and the French Quarter, are the most sought-after areas for returning CofC students.
Charleston's peninsula rental market is among the most competitive in the Southeast. Students should begin apartment searches in January for August move-ins and plan to sign leases by March, as quality units near the George Street and St. Philip Street corridors are claimed well before spring semester ends.
Housing policies change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with College of Charleston before signing a lease.
Students targeting apartments on or near the Charleston peninsula should start their search no later than January of the year they intend to move off campus. The most desirable units in Cannonborough-Elliotborough and Wagener Terrace are claimed months in advance by students coordinating roommate groups. Beginning early also allows time to review lease terms carefully, since many Charleston landlords require co-signers and first and last month deposits.
Peak competition for CofC-area rentals runs from February through April. Properties within walking distance of the main academic buildings on George Street and the School of Sciences and Mathematics on Coming Street attract the highest demand during this window. Students looking in this period should be prepared to make quick decisions, as quality listings can go from available to leased within days of posting.
Students who begin searching in May or later will find the peninsula largely picked over for the best units near campus. Options still available in summer often include rooms in shared houses in the North Central or Hampton Park areas, or apartments in West Ashley across the Ashley River bridge. These locations require a car or reliable bike access but can offer more space at lower per-person costs.
This compact residential neighborhood directly west of the CofC campus is the most popular off-campus area for students. Tree-lined streets, historic single-family homes converted to apartments, and walkable access to King Street dining make it the top choice for juniors and seniors.
The streets east of King Street and south of Calhoun place students within two or three blocks of the main academic quad. These are among the most expensive rentals on the peninsula, but the proximity to libraries, classrooms, and the Cougar Mall green is unmatched for students without cars.
North of Rutledge Avenue and bordering Hampton Park, Wagener Terrace offers slightly lower rents than the blocks directly adjacent to campus while still keeping students on the peninsula. The neighborhood is popular with older undergraduates and graduate students who want a quieter residential feel within a short bike ride of George Street.
Common questions from students searching for housing.
One-bedroom apartments on the Charleston peninsula typically range from $1,400 to $2,200 per month, with the most expensive units closest to campus in the French Quarter and Harleston Village. Students sharing a two or three-bedroom apartment in Cannonborough-Elliotborough often pay $800 to $1,200 per person.